Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/71

 sounded with naval armaments. George looked on these with a very jealous eye; the Court of Versailles, indeed, gave out that they were intended against the Emperor of Morocco, who had lately insulted his Ambassador; but it was evident that preparations so very great indicated some further design in view: however, a trifling accident soon explained the views of the French court

An English privateer in the Channel having attacked another carrying Russian colours, and disabled her; she hung out French colours. It seems a merchant at Rotterdam had fitted her out to cruise upon the English, and gave the Captain orders, that if he met with an enemy too strong for him to show French colours. This affair, in which the French were evidently aggressors, was made a pretence for a quarrel; the French Ambassador at London demanded satisfaction for the damage